Obafemi Martins blasted Newcastle out of the relegation zone to 14th in the table, as the Toon claimed a superb victory over Aston Villa.
NEWCASTLE UTD 2 ASTON VILLA 0
Second Half Performance To Match That At Old Trafford!
By Nu Mad
Updated Tuesday, 4th November 2008
NEWCASTLE: Given, Beye, Coloccini, Taylor, Jose Enrique, Gutierrez, Barton, Butt, Duff, Martins (Cacapa 88), Ameobi (Owen 90).
Subs Not Used: Harper, Guthrie, Bassong, N'Zogbia, Geremi.
ASTON VILLA: Friedel, Luke Young, Cuellar, Laursen, Shorey (Sidwell 72), Milner, Reo-Coker (Harewood 85), Barry, Ashley Young, Agbonlahor, Carew.
Subs Not Used: Guzan, Davies, Knight, Salifou, Gardner.
The first-half was probably 50-50. Not the most skillful 45 minutes we have seen this season, but highly-competitive none-the-less.
Although Newcastle looked in decent shape, they got a sharp warning with just 11 minutes gone when Villa captain Martin Laursen glanced a Gareth Barry off the outside of the post, and quite how Agbonlahor failed to convert former Magpie James Milner's 22nd-minute cross only he will know.But apart from a Shay Given save later in the game when the ball bounced off his chest, that was all Villa contributed.
Milner was a 'man on a mission' returning to his old stomping ground, and for 45 minutes we saw the best out of him. But he was snubbed out after the interval and we hardly heard a squeek from him.
As for the Toon, they brushed Villa aside in the second period with as good a performance as Kevin Keegan's side back on the opening day of the season at Old Trafford.
The back-line looked tight and 'safe as houses', quite possibly for the first time this campaign. Steven Taylor looked commanding and seemed to have taken on board Joe Kinnear's stinging words of advice this weekend, suggesting the youngster wasn't quite as good as he thought he was.
Jose Enrique again looked out of sorts early in the game, wandering a little too far out of position to make the fans feel at ease, but obviously the boss 'had words' at half-time.
The spur to the victory was obviously Oba Martin's sharp finishing, but it was built on the strength of the midfield that was superb when it needed to be.
Strong in the tackle with Joey Barton and Nicky Butt winning at least 80% of the 50-50 tackles, and Spiderman and Damien Duff performing tireless work down either flank.
Duff is a different player this season, back to his best after a couple of years of nothingness. And only he can explain why.
Despite the troubled times the club has experienced of late, Duff has never been found wanting.
Has Barton transformed the midfield since his inclusion? Personally I think you have two players in one. He has the 'bite' of Butt, but has the vision to go with it.
The former Man Utd star always plays a 'safe ball', Barton has the know-how to play the killer ball, and that is what we have lacked.
It was a vital three points, but best of all ... it was a performance that brings hope for the future. There was a pattern ... a plan ... and an execution.
As for the goals:
The opening goal arrived with 30 minutes remaining.
Barton picked out Martins with his back to goal on the edge of the penalty area and he turned smartly before blasting a left-foot drive wide of Friedel's dive and into the bottom corner.
The Magpies would have been significantly closer to victory seven minutes later had Nicky Butt's free-kick crept inside the post rather than clipped the outside of it.
However, the game was effectively over eight minutes from time when Jonas Gutierrez capped a fine individual display with a high-octane run down the left and a cross which Martins gleefully blasted into the back of the net.
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